Blessed Runner

I feel so blessed in so many ways. The biggest way is that Dustin and I will be able to meet our little girl in a few months. Being able to feel her kicks and movements as she gets stronger has created a bond that makes me more and more excited. Another way is that I have been feeling so good. I have heard so many horror stories about bad pregnancies (and births, women feel compelled to let you in on the worst!) and it makes me even more thankful that I feel so good, even better than pre-pregnancy. Thursday I entered the 3rd trimester, so I know I won't be feeling all that great for long. I cherish this time!!
I also feel so blessed to be able to be so active. Dustin and I go on bike rides, albeit short and slow. We go swim laps together; swimming is the one physical activity where I don't feel much different. And I am still able to run!!!  Keep in mind that it isn't all roses. It definitely isn't as comfortable to run as it was before. I get winded much easier and I have to go slow or else I get muscle fatigue in my legs. If there is any sign of possible cramping in my mid section I stop immediately.  The hardest part is not being able to stretch my legs out and finish strong at the end of the run or skipping speed work on the track. Wednesday's track day is normally my favorite, but is now a very boring run since I can't go any faster and only run in circles. I still go anyway because I get to see Dustin as he laps me :). Slow and steady is my current motto.
Currently I am still running 3-5miles a day, 5-6 days a week. I run some on my own, some with Dustin, and some with a group of girls. At Dustin's last race (60K trail run in Kentucky) I started talking with a girl/woman who was also spectating. We got to talking and both mentioned how we wish we could be running it too. I told her that I was pregnant and she said, "but you are still running, right? I ran 10-mile runs when I was 7 month pregnant". That put me in my pregnant-while-running place! Come to find out she wasn't running because she has a hairline fracture in her foot, that may put her out indefinitely, from a 100 mile ultra trail run. At that moment I visualized the word "freak" (a term I endearingly call runners that can perform at extremely high levels) flying in the air pointing down at her and it made me feel better. She normally runs 60-120 miles a week!!!  At 7 months pregnant I feel so fortunate to be able to run at all. I don't know what I would do without running (especially with the stress of pharmacy school). I know I couldn't have gone 9 months without it!

St. Pat's Day 5 Miler

26 Weeks 

Hard to believe, but this year was our first time running a St. Patrick's Day Run. St. Louis host a 5 miler that draws over 13,000 runners, most of them there to party. It was a lot of fun and we learned a few things for next year like arrive early to claim tailgate spot for parade and pack your own cooler. 

Aimee raced 26 weeks prego (53:08) and I tried to break 30:00 (31:31), but my legs just didn't have it in them. Oh well, the weather couldn't have been any better and we enjoyed the company of a few new Farmington running friends!
(Paul w/Ava and Ashley)

I think the part I enjoyed most about the race was watching all the fun/crazy people go by while waiting for Aimee and Ashley at the finish line. Funny thing, we never saw them finish because we were distracted by the group pushing a keg and doing keg stands, while the girls were on the other side....

  13,000 runners coming to the finish and one Jamaican Bobsled team, complete with human sled. 

Who needs aide stations when you carry your own cooler? 

Land Between The Lakes 60k

Two weeks after completing my first ultra, I just doubled my total.

West Kentucky Runners Club Land Between the Lakes is probably one of my all-time favorite races. As I look back, 60k (37.2 miles) is a long way, but it didn't seem all that long while running. As you can see from the picture above, the scenery and weather made this race even better. The course started in Grand Rivers, KY and headed roughly 1.7 miles out to an 11 mile single-track looping trail. There were four different events taking place at the same time on the trail: 23k (one loop), Marathon (two loops), 60k (three loops), and 50 miler (four loops). I finished the 60k in 6:40:46 a 10:45 pace.

First Loop Complete 

13 miles down; 24 to go!

The entire first loop was spent with other runners; most of the time in a single file line due to the narrow width of the trail. In a race this long no one was in too big of a hurry anyway. I stayed with the group pictured here for roughly 5-6 miles on the back section of the loop. Following the gear check and aide station to start the second loop we all split up and I was pretty much on my own after that.  

Reaching half-way point. 

Here I am coming down the flatter front side of the loop. The next 3-5 miles were the hilliest (is that a word?) part of the race. After fueling up at the aid station I was back on my way (below). Shortly after this picture was taken I was passed by the eventual winner of the 50 miler, David Riddle. David set the course record and was just voted fourth in the ultra-marathoner of the year award. You can read his blog here. To give you an idea of how fast David is, he ran 13 more miles than me in 50 less minutes. His pace for the 50 miler was 7:04!

Yes please. 

Back at it. Only 19 more.

Not sure if I would run across the yard in sandals. 50 miles? 

 

That about sums it up. 

Along the way I saw two different runners in sandals, a couple wipe-outs, and multiple abandoned mobile meth labs. I also ran across Joshua Holmes, the founder of Run It Fast.com. You can follow him on Twitter @bayou or @runitfast. Between taking pictures, caring for Marlie, and studying, Aimee found some time to run on her own. I look forward to the day we can run together again and compete in a race like this as a couple; but until then, she continues to be my number one supporter!

Best support crew ever! (Marlie was in the car) 

Coming up this week, we are running in the St. Louis St. Pat's Day 5 Miler. I'll be taking about a month off from racing after that before running in the St. Louis Go! Marathon April 15th. Looking forward to seeing some of our Springfield friends who will be running the half that day too.

Aimee's find on the shoreline. 

Running Long...then Longer?

This Saturday, March 10, I will be running in the Land Between the Lakes 60k. I originally signed up for the marathon, but 60k finishers get a belt buckle! I don't need a belt buckle, but I just couldn't resist having one. I'm not quite sure if I'm going through some mid-life running crisis, or just trying to cram in as much running as possible before June 22; but this will give me a combined 110k in a two week span.

After Post Oak I had the confidence to finish an ultra so I contacted the race director and ask if I could move up to the 60k from the full. He said it was only an extra $6 and I could pay him at packet pick up. What a deal!  Aimee is thrilled about our trip to Kentucky, but we're stopping at Lambert's in Sikeston and Target in Cape on the way home, so she agreed to tag along. Speaking of the prego runner, here is a recent photo (24 weeks).

Marlie has been staying active too, although I am not too sure he was thrilled about the headband Aimee dressed him with. However, his new Mizzou collar is looking sweet!

This also just happened to be "new shoe" week. I have not purchased new running shoes since September and the miles are piling up. I loved my Saucony Mirage shoes so much I bought two more. The white/orange pair is the original Mirage and the silver/yellow is the new Mirage II.

Does anyone else love new shoes as much as I do? What kind of shoes do you run in? How about running longer; does anyone get the urge to pack in as many races as possible? Next week, St. Pats Day 5 miler.